What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture treatments involve the insertion of very fine needles at specific points around the body in order to regulate blood flow, alleviate pain, move stagnation and balance emotions.
The overall aim of treatment is to alleviate patients’ symptoms as quickly and effectively as possible, whilst supporting general wellbeing and vitality to establish long-term health.
Regular treatment a few times a year can help to maintain a healthy balance and
to prevent the development of symptoms. Advice on lifestyle, diet and exercise may also be given, where appropriate.
Why choose Acupuncture?
There is a growing body of research evidence that shows acupuncture to be a cost effective form of treatment for a wide range of conditions. Acupuncture has been used as a mainstream medical modality in the East for between 2 and 3 thousand years.
Chinese medicine offers a unique overview of the combined effects of lifestyle, dietary, work, environmental and internal physical and emotional factors on our health. It views each of us as an individual and believes that the natural state of
the body and mind is one of balance and health.
Acupuncture thus typically favours minimal intervention, working with the body’s own, natural healing mechanisms to restore optimum health.
What is the difference between Traditional Acupuncture & Medical Acupuncture?
Acupuncture has become increasingly popular over the last few, where is recommended under NICE guidelines for numerous ailments. These include its use for migraine, tension type headache, non specific lower back pain and overactive bladder to name a few.
There are two types of acupuncture practiced in the Uk. These are traditional acupuncture and medical acupuncture with the main governing bodies being the British Acupuncture council and the Bristish Medical Acupuncture Society respectively.
Traditional acupuncturist with the BACC undergo a 3-4 year training degree program with their scope of practice being broader to enhance health. They have a greater depth of understanding into the evolution and philosophical principles underpinning acupuncture.
Medical acupuncture is practiced by registered health professionals such as physiotherapists, doctors, osteopaths etc. This requires a minimum of weekend training where the focus is on neurophyisiological aspects of acupuncture. Consequently much of this acupuncture is focused on its use in pain.
Here at the Estuary Clinic we have practitioners qualified in both types with some practitioners trained in both types to maximise results.
What can acupuncture treat?
For a comprehensive list of diseases or disorders for which acupuncture has been clinically tested in controlled trials, please click on the World Health Organisation image link below:
